Identifying predictors of resilience at inpatient and 3-month post-spinal cord injury

Objectives

To identify (1) changes in psychosocial factors, (2) relationships between psychosocial factors, and (3) significant predictors of resilience in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) during inpatient rehabilitation and at 3-month post-discharge.

Design

Cross sectional with convenience sample based on inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Setting

Inpatient rehabilitation hospital and community-based follow-up.

Participants

Individuals with a SCI.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Outcome measures

Demographic, resilience, self-efficacy for managing a chronic health issue, depression, social roles/activity limitations, and pain.

Results

The final sample consisted of 44 respondents (16 women and 28 men). Results of repeated measure analyses of variance indicated no significant changes in variables between inpatient and 3-month follow-up. Bivariate correlations revealed associations between resilience and self-efficacy at inpatient (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), and resilience and depression (r = −0.69, P < 0.001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.67, P < 0.001) at 3-month follow-up. Hierarchical regression analyses a significant model predicting resilience at inpatient stay (R = 0.61; adjusted R² = 0.24, P = 0.023), and at 3-month follow-up (R = 0.83; adjusted R² = 0.49, P = 0.022). Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor at inpatient stay (β = 0.46, P  =  0.006) and depression was strongest at 3-month follow-up (β = −0.80, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Results suggest that although resilience appears to be stable from inpatient to 3-month follow-up, different factors are stronger predictors of resilience across time. Based on current results, an assessment of self-efficacy during inpatient rehabilitation and an identification of depression at 3-month follow-up may be important factors to help identify those at risk of health issues overtime.